While capturing Mumbai for the 70mm screen has been a habit for years, not many know that shooting here burns a deep hole in makers’ pockets. Depending on numerous factors such as duration and area required, the cost can go up to more than Rs 1,00,000 for a single day. “Many popular shooting spots fall under different wards. So, if you are shooting in Ward A and venture into Ward B, permission is required from both the ward officials, and will cost extra,” says a production assistant.

Since the prices are steep, some small-time filmmakers, with the help of local production houses, try to shoot discreetly without proper permits, since they need multiple permissions for almost every shoot. Production costs also climb when a police force is needed to keep onlookers away during shots.

Public spots from Bandra to Borivli, will cost approximately Rs 50,000 - Rs 70,000 a day, while closer to south Mumbai, locations become increasingly expensive (around Rs 70,000 - Rs 1,00,000).

Capturing Bandra Bandstand on the silver screen will cost producers around Rs 40,000 - Rs 50,000 for a 12-hour shoot. The city’s infamous local trains join the list of usual suspects, and special arrangements are made for shoots, including attaching a special bogie to the train, if a sequence is to be shot inside. “Once the bogie is booked, no one else is allowed there. Police personnel are roped in to ensure smooth sailing,” says a source.

VA Malegaonkar, chief public relations officer of Central Railways, says, “It’s difficult to come up with a figure, as it depends on the duration of the shoot, time of day and amount of equipment. But shooting around the railways is definitely not cheap.”